The situation arose when, after multiple back-and-forth communications involving faith, the professor read the student's latest assignment, an essay on friendship, in which the student alluded to the intimately close friendship one might have as a Christian with Jesus. The professor voluntarily injected her own personal beliefs into the conversation by noting on the assignment paper that not everyone believed in God. When the student responded by expressing his concerns for the professor, based on his faith, the professor asked the student to refrain from further discussing religion with her.

The student respectfully explained that the reason he discusses religion with others, including her, is because he believes, based on his reading of the Bible, Christians have a responsibility to share their faith. In the same response, however, the student expressly wrote that he would honor the professor's request and cease personal religious discussions.

Despite this acknowledgment and agreement to her request, the professor complained to the college that the student was harassing her, prompting a meeting with a college official responsible for addressing student conduct issues. While the student maintained his agreement not to address matters of religion with the professor on a personal level, the conduct officer's instructions went further, restricting the student from addressing matters of religion in any way in this professor's class, including when appropriately responding to curricular assignments.

With our assistance, the student notified the conduct officer that he could not agree to such terms, as they would operate in direct violation of his right to the freedom of speech. The conduct officer, however, was undeterred and maintained the position that the student must treat this particular professor's class as effectively a religion-free zone.

We immediately issued a letter to the college's administration explaining that students have a constitutional right to speak from a religious viewpoint, and, as courts have repeatedly recognized, such speech, when germane to the subject matter of an assignment, rather than constituting harassment, is in fact fully protected. Our letter demanded that the college retract the instructions given by the conduct officer and formally acknowledge the student's right to respond to curricular assignments from a religious perspective.

The college was quick to respond and rightly agreed that the student would be permitted, without further negative consequences, to respond to curricular assignments from a religious point of view. Thus, when the student was recently assigned an essay discussing holidays that are important to him, and the reasons therefor, he was able to write about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, including the explanation that for him, as a Christian, Easter is important because Jesus' resurrection provided the opportunity for eternal life.

We are privileged to defend the right of students to engage in religious expression free from the result of government-imposed penalties—even when it may be deemed offensive to some. We will continue to remind government entities that religious speech is constitutionally protected and, despite the objections of those who find such speech controversial, it may not, for that reason, be silenced.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Trump's Saudi Nuclear Deal Could Remake the Middle East (Video)

Latest on Iran: Saudi Arabia Expects IRGC-coordinated Attacks by Militias as US Talks Remain in Limbo

Prayer Alert: Cyberattacks Target Water Systems Across Multiple States

Rare Bipartisan Crackdown on Those Who Protest Near a House of Worship (Video)

Trump Administration Locates 148,000 Unaccounted-For Illegal Immigrant Children

RFK Jr and HHS Decertifies Kentucky Organ Procurement Organization That Tried to Harvest Organs from Patient Despite 'Signs of Life'

'Now I Believe!': Czech Fighter Says Israel Brought Him Closer to God

[Watch] Spokane Fire Survivor Finds 'Joy' through Jesus After Alleged Arson Destroys Home and Belongings

Prayer Alert: Congo Missionaries Sound the Alarm about Ebola Outbreak

Trump Administration Slashes Regulations on Low-Income Childcare Program; Will Save Billions, Enable Head Start Expansion

Connecticut Hospital Agrees to End Transgender Mutilation and Medication of Children

How Democratic Socialists Are Backed by American CCP Apologists in Shanghai

MI Primary Winner El-Sayed Campaign Backed by Over $100,000 from Dozens of Members of Group With Alleged Terror Ties

VP Vance Calls on Congress to Enforce Federal Anti-Fraud Efforts, Fund Investigations

More Than 600,000 Voter Files Ripped Off Arizona Site in 2020 by Hacker, But DOJ Didn't Prosecute

Alleged Arsonist Arrested for the Spokane Fire Has Been Investigated Before for the Very Same Thing and More

'All He Had to do Was Tell the Truth': Senate Committee Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress

Wisconsin's Dem Socialist Candidate for Governor Defends Her Call to 'Cancel Thanksgiving'

New WI Poll Shows Affordability Top Issue, Socialism NOT Popular

Caught in Hypocrisy, Mamdani Backtracks on IDs for Marxist Marts